Pets equal to children?

I was lurking on another board and a woman posted saying she hated when people asked her what she was going to do with her cats once the baby came. She intended on keeping them and acquainting them with her new baby.

Somebody said that her cat was her first baby and there's no way she's getting rid of it because she has a kid.

Then someone else posted saying people that get rid of their animals are lazy and uncommitted. According to her, there is no excuse to get rid of pets. She goes on to say that if someone's pet attacks their LO then they should have trained their pet better or not left them alone with their LO. "Too many people view animals as property. It makes my heart sick."

To me, animals ARE property. If you find that you can't take care of them then give them away. True, you shouldn't keep getting new animals after getting rid of old ones, but no one should be stuck with something they don't want. My pet would never compare to my baby. My child will ALWAYS come before any pet. If my (hypothetical) dog growled at my LO, I wouldn't think twice about getting rid of him. My baby is absolutely more important than an animal.

What are your thoughts?Are your animals equal to your children?What would you do if your animal was aggressive with your LO?

I was lurking on another board and a woman posted saying she hated when people asked her what she was going to do with her cats once the baby came. She intended on keeping them and acquainting them with her new baby.

Somebody said that her cat was her first baby and there's no way she's getting rid of it because she has a kid.

Then someone else posted saying people that get rid of their animals are lazy and uncommitted. According to her, there is no excuse to get rid of pets. She goes on to say that if someone's pet attacks their LO then they should have trained their pet better or not left them alone with their LO. "Too many people view animals as property. It makes my heart sick."

To me, animals ARE property. If you find that you can't take care of them then give them away. True, you shouldn't keep getting new animals after getting rid of old ones, but no one should be stuck with something they don't want. My pet would never compare to my baby. My child will ALWAYS come before any pet. If my (hypothetical) dog growled at my LO, I wouldn't think twice about getting rid of him. My baby is absolutely more important than an animal.

What are your thoughts?Are your animals equal to your children?What would you do if your animal was aggressive with your LO?

"If religious people could be reasoned with, there would be no religious people.""I dislike arguments of any kind. They are always vulgar and often convincing."

Jack Channing Lockhart Born 6.26.2011 9:15am6lbs, 7oz; 21 in long

From:
SexyNamesR4Uglies

To: jocelyn81889

Posted: May-17 07:33 PM (2 of 109)

Haha are you on my homeboard?

Pets are never equal to people. That being said, they're also feeling creatures and I made a commitment to them when I adopted them. Just because things get difficult doesn't mean that it's ok to discard them.

My exception is if the pet could be a real danger to someone. I feel the way I do about my cats, but I may feel differently if I had a dog.

Haha are you on my homeboard?

Pets are never equal to people. That being said, they're also feeling creatures and I made a commitment to them when I adopted them. Just because things get difficult doesn't mean that it's ok to discard them.

My exception is if the pet could be a real danger to someone. I feel the way I do about my cats, but I may feel differently if I had a dog.

People come first in my house. My pets were absolutely our babies but now that we have Kate, if it comes down to her or the animals, the animals will have to go. There are already concerns that she may have an allergy to the cats but her pedi said we can just manage the congestion until she's older and hopefully she'll outgrow it. I think it's more sad when people treat animals better than their family members. You should see my father with his 5 dogs. It's hysterical

People come first in my house. My pets were absolutely our babies but now that we have Kate, if it comes down to her or the animals, the animals will have to go. There are already concerns that she may have an allergy to the cats but her pedi said we can just manage the congestion until she's older and hopefully she'll outgrow it. I think it's more sad when people treat animals better than their family members. You should see my father with his 5 dogs. It's hysterical

I would snap anybody's neck that tried to hurt my children. I am not a pet owner but I live with my mom and she has a Chihuahua. I like him and all but I would throw him across the room if he messed with my kiddos. I do not get the people who treat pets like children and give them human traits and what not....it is creepy to me.

I would snap anybody's neck that tried to hurt my children. I am not a pet owner but I live with my mom and she has a Chihuahua. I like him and all but I would throw him across the room if he messed with my kiddos. I do not get the people who treat pets like children and give them human traits and what not....it is creepy to me.

My dogs and cats were alway my babies. Once I had an actual human baby, I found myself thinking of them less and less like babies and more and more like dogs and cats. If one of my animals hurt my child on purpose (like I'm not counting the time the dog misjudged when he jumped off the couch and scratched the baby's arm), that animal would get a new home, and its new owners would be warned that the animal couldn't live in a household with children.

My dogs and cats were alway my babies. Once I had an actual human baby, I found myself thinking of them less and less like babies and more and more like dogs and cats. If one of my animals hurt my child on purpose (like I'm not counting the time the dog misjudged when he jumped off the couch and scratched the baby's arm), that animal would get a new home, and its new owners would be warned that the animal couldn't live in a household with children.

She goes on to say that if someone's pet attacks their LO then they
should have trained their pet better or not left them alone with their
LO.

I never understand this argument. If a HUMAN member of my family attacked my child, they would be out of our lives as well, by whatever legal means were available to me. So, I never really understand why people have a different set of standards for the canine family members.

She goes on to say that if someone's pet attacks their LO then they
should have trained their pet better or not left them alone with their
LO.

I never understand this argument. If a HUMAN member of my family attacked my child, they would be out of our lives as well, by whatever legal means were available to me. So, I never really understand why people have a different set of standards for the canine family members.

"If religious people could be reasoned with, there would be no religious people.""I dislike arguments of any kind. They are always vulgar and often convincing."

Jack Channing Lockhart Born 6.26.2011 9:15am6lbs, 7oz; 21 in long

From:
cdswim

To: jocelyn81889

Posted: May-17 07:43 PM (9 of 109)

Pets aren't equal to children, however, they are living beings that should be treated with respect. I don't view them as property and definitely wouldn't get rid of them without trying to work things out.Â

I am an animal lover and would never get rid of my pets. If there are any issues when the baby comes along, I will go to great lengths to keep my pets. I would hire a trainer or do whatever is necessary to create a non-hostile environment. My pets are part of my family and I don't consider them disposable.

Pets aren't equal to children, however, they are living beings that should be treated with respect. I don't view them as property and definitely wouldn't get rid of them without trying to work things out.Â

I am an animal lover and would never get rid of my pets. If there are any issues when the baby comes along, I will go to great lengths to keep my pets. I would hire a trainer or do whatever is necessary to create a non-hostile environment. My pets are part of my family and I don't consider them disposable.

"If religious people could be reasoned with, there would be no religious people.""I dislike arguments of any kind. They are always vulgar and often convincing."

Jack Channing Lockhart Born 6.26.2011 9:15am6lbs, 7oz; 21 in long

From:
jocelyn81889

To: cmkoch

Posted: May-17 07:45 PM (11 of 109)

Oh, definitely, I agree. If my baby pulled on the cat's tail and was then scratched, I wouldn't immediately get rid of the cat. But if hostility is present for no reason, that's when I'd take precautions.

Oh, definitely, I agree. If my baby pulled on the cat's tail and was then scratched, I wouldn't immediately get rid of the cat. But if hostility is present for no reason, that's when I'd take precautions.

"If religious people could be reasoned with, there would be no religious people.""I dislike arguments of any kind. They are always vulgar and often convincing."

Jack Channing Lockhart Born 6.26.2011 9:15am6lbs, 7oz; 21 in long

From:
SexyNamesR4Uglies

To: jocelyn81889

Posted: May-17 07:46 PM (12 of 109)

"But what one poster said about there never being a good reason to get rid of a pet just irked me."

That's just someone who is either a new mom, or they've been lucky enough not to have anything bad happen to them. I'm honestly not at all worried about my cats, but I would be nervous with a dog.

I'm also having issues with my sister in laws great dane. He's not a mean dog at all, but he's huge and constantly trampling over everybody, knocking into people/things, and his whipping tail have left bruises on me. We all have sunday dinner together at my husbands mom and dad's house but I don't want the baby around the dog. We're trying to figure out a compromise, he's not trained very well at all.

"But what one poster said about there never being a good reason to get rid of a pet just irked me."

That's just someone who is either a new mom, or they've been lucky enough not to have anything bad happen to them. I'm honestly not at all worried about my cats, but I would be nervous with a dog.

I'm also having issues with my sister in laws great dane. He's not a mean dog at all, but he's huge and constantly trampling over everybody, knocking into people/things, and his whipping tail have left bruises on me. We all have sunday dinner together at my husbands mom and dad's house but I don't want the baby around the dog. We're trying to figure out a compromise, he's not trained very well at all.

Oh no, I have that same problem with my brother's dog. He has a pit bull who is very rambunctious and hyper and her tail HURTS! I don't think I'd be able to put my son down around the dog. The thought of what could happens makes me so nervous.

Would your in-laws just put the dog out for the dinner?

Oh no, I have that same problem with my brother's dog. He has a pit bull who is very rambunctious and hyper and her tail HURTS! I don't think I'd be able to put my son down around the dog. The thought of what could happens makes me so nervous.

"If religious people could be reasoned with, there would be no religious people.""I dislike arguments of any kind. They are always vulgar and often convincing."

Jack Channing Lockhart Born 6.26.2011 9:15am6lbs, 7oz; 21 in long

From:
SexyNamesR4Uglies

To: jocelyn81889

Posted: May-17 07:53 PM (18 of 109)

To be honest they don't like the dog either, they put up with it for their daughter. She's 41 and never had a serious relationship so the dog is her child. I just want to do this in a delicate way so it doesn't hurt her feelings or make her resentful. I don't know if that's possible though.

To be honest they don't like the dog either, they put up with it for their daughter. She's 41 and never had a serious relationship so the dog is her child. I just want to do this in a delicate way so it doesn't hurt her feelings or make her resentful. I don't know if that's possible though.

My dog doesn't attack for no reason. If my baby pulled her tail or something, it would be a lesson learned about how to behave around pets. If things got worse than that, I would contain my pet (in a crate or area of the home) until I could hire a trainer. My dog is already pretty well-behaved and I'm not too worried about anything happening. One of my cats is very gentle, even with young children and I'm not worried about her either. My other cat runs away from everyone.

My dog doesn't attack for no reason. If my baby pulled her tail or something, it would be a lesson learned about how to behave around pets. If things got worse than that, I would contain my pet (in a crate or area of the home) until I could hire a trainer. My dog is already pretty well-behaved and I'm not too worried about anything happening. One of my cats is very gentle, even with young children and I'm not worried about her either. My other cat runs away from everyone.

I have two dogs I consider my children. I've had them for 4 yrs they have made me smile everyday ever since. They are not good with children and now that I'm expecting my first lo I am aware of how cautious I have to be with all of them. My dogs are small enough that they wouldn't really do bad harm if they were to bite. I have to be super duper careful when the lo starts crawling Nd tries to grab on the fur babies because I know it wouldn't be pretty. I couldn't think of ever getting rid of my dogs, after all it's my fault they are so spoiled. In conclusion I am one of this crazy people who think of them as human and far more important than some people.

I have two dogs I consider my children. I've had them for 4 yrs they have made me smile everyday ever since. They are not good with children and now that I'm expecting my first lo I am aware of how cautious I have to be with all of them. My dogs are small enough that they wouldn't really do bad harm if they were to bite. I have to be super duper careful when the lo starts crawling Nd tries to grab on the fur babies because I know it wouldn't be pretty. I couldn't think of ever getting rid of my dogs, after all it's my fault they are so spoiled. In conclusion I am one of this crazy people who think of them as human and far more important than some people.

I've known people who have had pets for years and years that never showed aggressive behavior. They never worried about their pet attacking their kid...until it happened. Out of the blue. Not saying yours are just going to go crazy one day and attack someone. Just hypothetically, if your dog attacked your LO (not just a pull on the tail, and get a little nip) would you then get rid of your animal? Assume you've exhausted all other options. Trainer didn't work, etc.

Just curious how animal lovers think in these situations.

I've known people who have had pets for years and years that never showed aggressive behavior. They never worried about their pet attacking their kid...until it happened. Out of the blue. Not saying yours are just going to go crazy one day and attack someone. Just hypothetically, if your dog attacked your LO (not just a pull on the tail, and get a little nip) would you then get rid of your animal? Assume you've exhausted all other options. Trainer didn't work, etc.

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